Chalk pastels are sticks of pure color pigment that are held together with a glue or binding.
Drawing with soft chalk pastels allows the artist to create expressive lines and endless color blending options!
Hard pastels are able to be shaped and sharpened to achieve more exact lines but are made with less pigment than soft pastels.
Regardless of the type of pastel you choose to work with, there are a few basic techniques to keep in mind as you explore the medium.
Some methods to experiment with...
Experiment with line and pressure. The amount of pressure you apply affects the depth and the boldness of color.
• Decrease pressure while drawing with the chalk to create lighter tones.
• Increase your pressure while you draw with the chalk to make darker tones. This especially works if you hold the chalk and draw it sideways.
Create broad strokes by holding the chalk pastel between your forefinger and thumb.
• Use the broad side of the chalk to make a broad stoke.
• Use a sharpened piece of a chalk pastel to draw thin lines. Hold the piece at an angle (this especially works with hard pastels).
• Hold your pastel stick like you hold a pencil.
• Try different line application techniques such as hatching, smudging, blending and dabbing.
Blending allows you to achieve a limitless array of color and shading options on the paper.
• Blend two strokes of color that are side by side with your fingers to create a burnished look.
• Use rags or tissues, brushes and your fingers to investigate different blending techniques.
Achieve distance and depth in a pastel painting by applying the "soft edge" or "hard edge" techniques to your work.
• Soften and blur the edges of distant objects by blending.
• Outline objects in the foreground or those closer to the front of the image with distinct edges to give them a hard line.
Experiment with different types of paper and different colors as well.
Experiment with layering.
• Layering is an important effect in any pastel drawing. Each layer adds to the over all richness of the piece.
• Apply a fixative to a layer in order to prevent the pigment from falling off the paper and or to provide a foundation for the next layer.
• Apply fixative sparingly to maintain your light coverage.
• Applying more fixative darkens the pigment.
• Paper with a significantly textured surface allows you to use the least amount of fixative with the best results.
This is only the beginning! The variety of possibilities with chalk pastels is endless!
Maybe you can come up with your own new technique!
Let's Learn a Bit About Chalk Pastels!
Drawing with soft chalk pastels allows the artist to create expressive lines and endless color blending options!
Hard pastels are able to be shaped and sharpened to achieve more exact lines but are made with less pigment than soft pastels.
Regardless of the type of pastel you choose to work with, there are a few basic techniques to keep in mind as you explore the medium.
Some methods to experiment with...
Experiment with line and pressure. The amount of pressure you apply affects the depth and the boldness of color.
• Decrease pressure while drawing with the chalk to create lighter tones.
• Increase your pressure while you draw with the chalk to make darker tones. This especially works if you hold the chalk and draw it sideways.
Create broad strokes by holding the chalk pastel between your forefinger and thumb.
• Use the broad side of the chalk to make a broad stoke.
• Use a sharpened piece of a chalk pastel to draw thin lines. Hold the piece at an angle (this especially works with hard pastels).
• Hold your pastel stick like you hold a pencil.
• Try different line application techniques such as hatching, smudging, blending and dabbing.
Blending allows you to achieve a limitless array of color and shading options on the paper.
• Blend two strokes of color that are side by side with your fingers to create a burnished look.
• Use rags or tissues, brushes and your fingers to investigate different blending techniques.
Achieve distance and depth in a pastel painting by applying the "soft edge" or "hard edge" techniques to your work.
• Soften and blur the edges of distant objects by blending.
• Outline objects in the foreground or those closer to the front of the image with distinct edges to give them a hard line.
Experiment with different types of paper and different colors as well.
Experiment with layering.
• Layering is an important effect in any pastel drawing. Each layer adds to the over all richness of the piece.
• Apply a fixative to a layer in order to prevent the pigment from falling off the paper and or to provide a foundation for the next layer.
• Apply fixative sparingly to maintain your light coverage.
• Applying more fixative darkens the pigment.
• Paper with a significantly textured surface allows you to use the least amount of fixative with the best results.
This is only the beginning! The variety of possibilities with chalk pastels is endless!
Maybe you can come up with your own new technique!